Duplantis backs himself as the best: “No one could go jump for jump with me”
DOHA: Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis isn’t just dominating pole vaulting — he’s redefining it. After being named World Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus Awards, the 25-year-old Swede made it clear: in a head-to-head battle, no one in history could keep up.
“I don’t think that there’s ever been anybody in the history either that could line up with me and go jump for jump with me,” Duplantis told Olympics.com. “When it comes to pole vaulting, I’m the best one out there.”
With two Olympic gold medals, 11 world records, and a 28-competition winning streak stretching back to July 2023, Duplantis’ confidence is backed by jaw-dropping achievements.
Still, he shows respect for past legends, particularly Sergey Bubka — the Ukrainian who shattered records 35 times and captured Olympic gold in 1988. “I might need a bit more longevity to match a career like Bubka’s,” Duplantis acknowledged.
After setting his latest world record at 6.27 metres in February, Duplantis is gearing up for his outdoor season debut at the Xiamen Diamond League in China, with no signs of slowing down.(Reuters)
